The Acropolis
Athens, Greece

1999/2001

Throughout this project, we consulted numerous research sources relating to the excavation of the monuments and their architectural details, as well as resources giving information about the precise elevational location and geographical position of each natural and constructed feature on the hill.  The sources ranged from 19th-century reports to the latest scientific study of the buildings by the Greeks.  Many hours were spent interpreting the disparate sets of dimensions,  elevations, and drawings  before proceeding with the 3D digital re-creation.

Our resulting virtual reality re-creation of the major monuments on the Acropolis (snapshot images from the model appear below), allowed the researcher to simulate a walk around the 5th-century monuments.  This made it possible to test accurately, in a three-dimensional context, hypotheses about ancient sight lines and space utilization, and references to bedrock cuttings mentioned in early excavations on the hill.  Only an accurate 3D model could permit such detailed speculations to be validated.

To read more about the analysis of the sources and the probability that the Archaic temple to Athena was not demolished after the sack by the Persians, please see the article by Gloria Ferrari.

Massing Model

Aerial view of the virtual reality Acropolis massing model; showing the Old Athena Temple ghosted.

Aerial view of the virtual reality Acropolis massing model; showing the Old Athena Temple ghosted.
View from just inside the Propylaea, looking west; with the statue of Athena Promachos and the Old Athena Temple in the background.

View from just inside the Propylaea, looking west; with the statue of Athena Promachos and the Old Athena Temple in the background.
View of the virtual reality massing model, looking east, showing the Old Athena Temple in ruins.

View of the virtual reality massing model, looking east, showing the Old Athena Temple in ruins.
click on the images to enlarge

2003

For this project (based on our research sources), we added the following features to the existing model:
  • Temple of Athena Nike
  • Terrain along the sides of the Acropolis hill
  • Sculptural details to the Parthenon
  • Color to the entablature of the Parthenon
  • Statue of Athena Parthenos

The addition of details to the exterior and interior of the Parthenon could not have progressed without the gracious assistance from the Nashville Parthenon Museum who generously allowed us to use copies of images of their Parthenon replica as the basis for some of our model.

Acropolis, view toward the SE

Acropolis, view toward the SE
Parthenon, west facade

Parthenon, west facade
Parthenon, east facade

Parthenon, east facade
click on the images to enlarge

2009

Aerial view of the Acropolis with access ramp/stairs added below the Propylaea

Aerial view of the Acropolis with access ramp/stairs added below the Propylaea
Aerial view of the Acropolis with access ramp/stairs added below the Propylaea

Aerial view of the Acropolis with access ramp/stairs added below the Propylaea
...
click on the image to enlarge

Reference
Page Created: October 5, 2004
Page Updated: October 7, 2009
URL:
Page Author: The Institute for the Visualization of History